Archbishop Casey installed as 10th archbishop of Cincinnati

On April 3, Archbishop Robert G. Casey was installed as the 10th metropolitan archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, succeeding Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr.

The Mass of Installation gathered about 160 priests and 80 deacons of the archdiocese, in addition to Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Archbishop Casey was joined in the sanctuary by Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop Schnurr, and over 30 visiting archbishops and bishops from around the United States. Government officials, representatives from every parish in the archdiocese, as well as representatives from other Christian faith communities and non-Christian traditions were also in attendance.

Archbishop Casey’s homily emphasized the rich symbolism of the occasion, combining personal anecdote with theological reflection. Drawing upon the legacy of St. Peter the Apostle and his own growth in discipleship, the new archbishop began by describing his difficulty learning to swim as a young boy.

“Attempting to float” in the shallow end of the pool, he explained, he instead sank “like a rock.” Coughing up water, he looked ruefully toward his older brother in the deep end, diving off the high board to the adulation of all those around him. Gradually learning to swim — and making his way to the deep end of the pool — served as a metaphor for Archbishop Casey’s growth in his own discipleship with Christ, and encouragement for ours.

In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus told the apostle Simon that henceforth he would be known as “Peter,” the anglicized version of the Greek word for “stone,” “petra” (Mt. 16:18).

“Upon this rock,” Jesus declared, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.” Thus did Jesus establish the office of the bishop, the living magisterium through which God guides his church into the fullness of truth.

While we rightfully think of the bishop of Rome as the successor of Peter, every bishop stands in succession to St. Peter and the other apostle-bishops to whom Jesus granted spiritual authority (Mt 18:18). Therefore, all bishops are participants in the united apostolic and episcopal ministry of St. Peter.

“What confidence Jesus had in Simon Peter,” the archbishop said, “that Peter would have the strength and stamina, the resolution and the resolve, to bear the weight of the church.” As Jesus entrusted the care of the church to St. Peter, so he extends that trust to bear the heavy burden caring for souls to Peter’s successors.

Yet, Archbishop Casey reminded the congregation, St. Peter was very far from perfect. He denied knowing Jesus, for example, and fled from the crucifixion to take shelter in Galilee.

And, like the young Robert Casey, Peter sometimes sank like a rock. As recounted in Matthew 14, when his eyes of faith looked away from Jesus, Peter began to flounder in the waves of the Sea of Galilee. Only after his eyes were refocused on the savior was Peter able to rise to become a “living stone,” walking toward Jesus, rather than sinking away from him like an inert rock.

And thus did Archbishop Casey weave together three biblical images from the life and letters of St. Peter, in whose cathedral he preached and in whose chair he now sits.